Mindful Economics : How the U.S. Economy Works, Why It Matters, and How It Could Be Different

Are the huge profits garnered by corporations each year a case of a few bad apples in the business world taking advantage of unmonitored dealings? Is this consolidation of wealth made at the expense of the overall economy and the wellbeing of the average citizen? Will the planet be saved by developing more "green businesses" and "green collar" jobs? Joel Magnuson delivers a powerful response to the current misconceptions about the US economy in his brilliantly accessible Mindful Economics. The troubles we face are not the result of a good system gone awry, but rather a system that is built to do exactly what it is doing: corporations are designed to reap profits for its shareholders, at any cost. The greater welfare of society, or of the environment, will never be as important as financial gain. Magnuson shows us the relationship between the current wars abroad; rising oil prices; the recession; ballooning incomes of top CEOs; the mortgage crisis; and the health care, insurance, and auto industries, and he teaches us that the best way to understand the US economy is to think like an economist. With stunning clarity, Magnuson shows the interconnectedness of the local with the global, and offers real alternatives to this capitalist model.

a Guide To Surviving Capitalism In The New Century.

lucy Heckman - Library Journal

magnuson (economics, Portland State Univ. & Portland Community Coll.) Presents An Intriguing Perspective On The U.s. Economy By Describing The American Capitalist System And Its Key Institutions And Economic Issues, Covering The Most Important Consequences Of The System And, Finally, Offering Alternatives. His Overview Of The History And Background Of The U.s. Economic System Is Thorough, Including The Development Of Capitalism, The U.s. Financial System And Federal Reserve Banks, The Stock Market, The Structure Of Corporations, And International Economic Relations. The Problems With The System Magnuson Discusses Include Poverty, Financial Market Instability, Environmental Destruction, And Economic Downturns. In The Final Section, He Presents A Notable Study Of A Mindful Economy, Writing, In A Mindful Economy, We Seek To Avoid Debilitating Crises And Set Out To Follow A Thoughtful And Careful Path Toward Change. He Examines Ways Of Achieving A Mindful Economy Of Values-based Principles: The Mindful Economy Is Intrinsically Democratic, Equitable, Just, Based On Respect For All Life And Natural Processes, And Stable. This Book Should Be Read By Faculty And Students Studying Economics And Can Be Appreciated By Those Just Learning About How The Economy Works. Highly Recommended To Academic Library Collections.

An educational resource for citizens, activists, policy-makers and others who wish to deepen there understanding of the U.S. economy and its consequences. Positive social change will require that people understand the economy and the process of developing alternatives.